Maverick Advocaten (est. 2013) is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. This prompted Harry Mens to interview the firm’s founding partners, Martijn van de Hel and Diederik Schrijvershof, on his Business Class programme about the highlights of the past decade.
The interview touched on a few playful campaigns in the past, such as the planes with banners that flew over the Zuidas on the occasion of the relocation of the firm, the Top Gun film event in Tuschinski, and the recent launch of Cyriel Ruers as a new partner in a stunt plane.
Diederik and Martijn also reflected on the developments in the market for competition lawyers, the position of Maverick Advocaten, and what it means for the name of the firm, coined to reflect the role of challenger. The interview addressed the declining competition in the competition and market regulation legal services market.
Diederik and Martijn explained that since the arrival of Maverick Advocaten many competitors have been disappearing. Lawyers have retired, have been appointed judges, or have joined the regulator, and young talents from large firms are leaving the market. If this trend continues, Maverick Advocaten will end up as a monopolist. That may make it difficult to uphold Maverick’s reputation.
Martijn and Diederik asked Harry Mens whether they should consider a change of name. Harry Mens was very clear about this: “I’d stick with ‘Maverick’."
Who are we to disregard his advice. Onwards to Royal Maverick Advocaten N.V.!
An abridged version of the interview with Harry Mens can be found below. The full interview can be found at www.mavericktv.nl
